Sounder control circuit, sounder system and method for vehicle

Abstract

A sounder control circuit is applicable to for a vehicle with a plurality of sounders, in which each sounder is used for generating a sound signal toward a different direction respectively. The sounder control circuit includes a switch module, a control module and a driving module. The switch module has a plurality of switches, and outputs an operation signal to the control module according to a status of each of the switches. Thus, the control module outputs a control signal to the driving module according to the operation signal for driving at least one of the sounders to output the sound signal.

1 . A sounder control circuit, applicable to a vehicle with a plurality of sounders, wherein each of the sounders is used for generating a sound signal toward a different direction, the sounder control circuit comprising:
 a switch module, comprising a plurality of switches, and outputting an operation signal according to a status of the switches;   a control module, coupled to the switch module, and outputting a control signal according to the operation signal; and   a driving module, coupled to the control module, and driving at least one of the sounders to output the sound signal according to the control signal.   
     
     
         2 . The sounder control circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving module further controls at least one of the sounders to output the sound signal toward a specific direction according to the control signal. 
     
     
         3 . The sounder control circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein a number of the switches is greater than a number of the sounders. 
     
     
         4 . The sounder control circuit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensing module coupled to the control module, for sensing a characteristic parameter of the vehicle or an environmental parameter surrounding the vehicle, and outputting a sense signal to the control module. 
     
     
         5 . The sounder control circuit according to  claim 4 , wherein the sensing module comprises:
 a temperature sensor, for sensing a temperature of a surrounding environment of the vehicle, and outputting a temperature sense signal to the control unit; and   a speed sensor, for sensing a speed of the vehicle, and outputting a speed sense signal to the control unit.   
     
     
         6 . The sounder control circuit according to  claim 4 , wherein the control module comprises:
 a logic controller, coupled to the sensing module, for receiving the sense signal, and generating a logic output; and   a central processing unit, coupled to the logic controller, for generating the control signal according to the logic output.   
     
     
         7 . The sounder control circuit according to  claim 6 , wherein the control module further comprises a frequency modulator coupled to the central processing unit, for generating a frequency modulation signal for the driving module according to an output of the central processing unit, so as to determine a frequency of the sound signal output by each of the sounders. 
     
     
         8 . A sounder system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a sounder module, comprising at least one sounder, for outputting a sound signal;   an operation panel, comprising a plurality of operating units; and   a control circuit, coupled to the sounder module and the operation panel, for driving the sounder to output the sound signal when at least one of the operating units is enabled, so that the vehicle generates an alarming sound toward a direction corresponding to the enabled operating unit.   
     
     
         9 . The sounder system according to  claim 8 , wherein the operation panel is arranged on a steering wheel of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The sounder system according to  claim 8 , wherein the sounder module further comprises a plurality of sounders, and each of the sounders is used for outputting the sound signal toward a different direction. 
     
     
         11 . The sounder system according to  claim 10 , wherein the sounder module further comprises a plurality of soundproof shields, so that each of the sounders is arranged in one of the soundproof shields correspondingly, and each of the soundproof shields has an opening, so that when one of the sounders outputs the sound signal, the sound signal is propagated out through the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The sounder system according to  claim 10 , wherein the control circuit comprises a switch module with a plurality of switches, and the switches are coupled to the sounders and the operating units correspondingly to drive at least one of the sounders to output the sound signal when one of the operating units is enabled, so that the vehicle generates the alarming sound toward a direction corresponding to the enabled operating unit. 
     
     
         13 . The sounder system according to  claim 10 , wherein the sound signal generated by each of the sounders is an ultrasonic beam at a different phase. 
     
     
         14 . The sounder system according to  claim 13 , wherein when one of the operating units is enabled, a part of the sounders generate corresponding ultrasonic beams toward an intersection point at an external of the vehicle, so that the ultrasonic beams interfere with each other at the intersection point to generate the alarming sound. 
     
     
         15 . The sounder system according to  claim 10 , wherein the control circuit further comprises:
 a switch module, comprising a plurality of switches coupled to the operating units respectively, for generating an operation signal when one of the operating units is enabled;   a control module, coupled to the switch module, for outputting a control signal according to the operation signal; and   a driving module, coupled to the control module, for driving the corresponding sounder to output the sound signal according to the control signal.   
     
     
         16 . The sounder system according to  claim 8 , wherein the control circuit comprises:
 a switch module, comprising a plurality of switches coupled to the operating units respectively, for generating an operation signal when one of the operating units is enabled;   a control module, coupled to the switch module, for outputting a control signal according to the operation signal; and   a driving module, coupled to the control module, for turning the sounder according to the control signal to generate the sound signal toward a direction corresponding to the enabled operating unit.   
     
     
         17 . The sounder system according to  claim 8 , wherein a frequency of the sound signal is between 20 Hz to 20 KHz. 
     
     
         18 . The sounder system according to  claim 8 , wherein a frequency of the sound signal is between 250 KHz to 25 MHz. 
     
     
         19 . The sounder system according to  claim 8 , wherein the operation panel further comprises a volume control unit for controlling a volume of the sound signal. 
     
     
         20 . A sounder method for a vehicle, comprising:
 providing a plurality of operating units; and   generating an alarming sound directionally toward a direction corresponding to an enabled operating unit when one of the operating units is enabled.   
     
     
         21 . The sounder method according to  claim 20 , wherein the step of generating the alarming sound comprises:
 generating a plurality of ultrasonic beams at different phases; and   directing travelling paths of the ultrasonic beams toward an intersection point at an external of the vehicle, so that the ultrasonic beams interfere with each other at the intersection point to generate the alarming sound.